Vacuum valve



R. R. FLEMING Aug. 8, 1933.

VACUUM VALVE Filed Oct. 28, 1931 INVENTOR FLEMING Patented Aug. 8, 1933 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 28, 1931.

1 Claim.

This invention relates to vacuum valves.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a vacuum valve for use on radiators and so placed in relation to a radiator that steam issuing from the valve will come into contact with the radiator when the latter is warm so that the steam will not condense and fall on the floor as water.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a vacuum valve operable with a single diaphragm.

Other objects of the invention will be appreciated from a reading of the following specification.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the application, with the understanding, however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therefrom as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the valve of my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the valve in combination with a radiator.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof, the numeral 5' indicates the end coil of a radiator to which is operatively secured the vacuum valve of my invention, said valve comprising a casing 6, a vertically disposed diaphragm '7 dividing the interior of the casing into compartments 8 and 9, said casing having a vent l0 normally closed by a stud or pin 12 and secured to the diaphragm. Said casing comprises two cooperating concavo-convex parts 13 and 14 secured together by rivets 15 and together holding annular gaskets 16 between which the mentioned diaphragm is inserted. A stop 1'? projects inwardly from the inner surface of the casing part 14 to limit the movement of the diaphragm. A body of vaporizable material 18 is provided in the compartment 9 and a siphon tube 19 extends from the compartment 8 into the radiator coil 5.

Air and/or steam passing into the compartment 1?. moves the diaphragm '7 to the right, this movement of the diaphragm also moving the pin or valve member 12 to the right to open the vent 10 to permit of the expulsion of air from Serial No. 571,666

the radiator by the incoming steam. The steam issuing from the vent 10 will contact with the hot radiator coil 5 and, instead of coming into contact with a cold body and forming drops of water, will, due to its admixture with the air, condense into extremely small particles of water which will remain suspended in the air. This disposition of the steam issuing from the vent 10 overcomes the disadvantage of previous valves, of condensing the steam into ordinary drops of 65 water which fall onto the floor and disfigure the same.

The presence of steam in the chamber 8 heats the vaporizable material 18, converting the same into vapor which fills the chamber 9 and exerts a pressure against the diaphragm '7 which eventually moves the diaphragm to the left to result in closing of the Vent 10 by the valve member 12.

What is claimed as new is:

A vacuum valve comprising a casing composed of concavo-convex peripherally flanged elements and fasteners passing through said flanges and securing said elements together, a diaphragm disposed in said casing adjacent the juncture line of said elements and seated in one of the latter to divide the casing into two chambers, a gasket disposed in the other element at the periphery thereof and bearing against said diaphragm, one of said elements having a centrally disposed vent, an inwardly opening valve closing said vent and connected centrally to said diaphragm, the vent carrying element having a steam inlet, and a vaporizable material disposed in the chamber defined by the diaphragm and the other element and bulging the diaphragm when in a vapor state to effect vent closing movement of said valve.

RALPH R. FLEMING. 

